Multi-directional sign with illumination



March 15, 1938.. .N. J. MACOMBER' MULTIDIRECTIONAL SIGN WITH ILLUMINATION Filed June 25, 1937 Elm/m s J/Wcower Mae/27 Patented Mar. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Naum J. Macomber, Lima, Ohio, assignor of forty-nine percent to James E. Grosjean, Lima,

Ohio

Application June 23, 1937, Serial No. 149,952

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to multi-directional or multiple sided signs and particularly to signs of this type which are visible from a plurality of different angles during both day and night, illumination of course being provided for night-time visibility.

My invention is especially concerned with signs of the type in which opaque indicia are disposed in the path of light transmission or reflection. The term sign is intended to include any suitable device which conveys a thought or impression to the viewer through selected arrangement of letters or other symbols or through pictorial representation.

It is the primary object of the present invention to devise an improved multiple-direction sign in which a plurality of significant images are clearly visible from a plurality of widely separated points of obseruation. The several images may be identical or may differ from each other, but usually they will be identical as is desirable for example, in a store-front advertising sign designed to be read from both directions on the street and perhaps also from a point across the street.

In connection with the foregoing it is a further object to construct such a sign for economical and eifective operation with a common source of light for producing the several significant images.

It is a major object of the present invention to illuminate one or more sets of opaque indicia in such manner with .a background of reflected light as to render said indicia clcarly'readable from remote points and very easily and correctly readable from all points within the range of visibility. This object is contemplated particularly with comparative reference to signs heretofore constructed in which either the indicia themselves or the background for the same have produced such glare as to make them readable with difficultly at all ranges and illegible when viewed from relatively remote points.

More specifically the present invention contemplates an illuminated sign in which at least two sets of opaque indicia are arranged to face in respectively different directions, and in which a pair of reflecting surfaces are illuminated from a common light source to form accentuating background for said two sets of indicia.

It is an object of my invention to devise a three-way sign comprising two substantially parallel sets of indicia and a third set of indicia approximately perpendicular to said parallel sets, means affording reflecting surfaces between the parallel sets, and a source of illumination arranged behind the third set and disposed to produce reflection of light from said surfaces toward said parallel sets.

The present invention further contemplates a multi-directional sign in which the indicia are 5 readily detachable and in which like indicia may be interchangeable throughout the several sets of indicia.

Another object of this invention resides in construction of an illuminated sign in which the sign structure is supported or carried by the conduit or piping which houses the electrical feed wires, and especially in which the individual indicia are mounted upon branches of a rigid wireconduit assembly. 15

The foregoing and further and more specific objects of the present invention will become more clear from a study of the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing and the appended claims.

' In the drawing:

Figure l is a front elevational view of one preferred multi-sided sign structure embodying the present invention, the view being obtained from a point of observation in front of a set of indicia that is arranged between two further sets of indicia;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken through the device of Fig. 1 substantially on the plane of line 2--2;

Figure 3 is a view in left side elevation of the device of Figs. 1 and 2, as seen when looking toward the line 3-3 in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 4 is a view in rear elevation of one of the letters of the front set of indicia, viewed on the plane of line 4-4 in Fig. 2.

With continued reference to the drawing, wherein like characters are employed to designate like parts, the illustrated sign consists essentially of an upright structure S for concealing an electrical conduit and for affording a pair of reversed light reflecting surfaces; a pair of sets of indicia, M and N, substantially identical and arranged back to back adjacent the respective reflecting surfaces; and a third set of indicia, P, substantially perpendicular to the sets M and N and designed to conceal a source of illumination for the pair of reflecting surfaces.

The upright structure S comprises a vertical member 4, preferably formed of sheet metal in such manner as to provide a pair of oppositely facing and concavely curved reflecting surfaces 5 interconnected by a bridge portion 5. The surfaces 5 as shown are quarter-sections of substantially parallel cylinders but, as will be apparent later the curvatures as well as the relationship of the surfaces may be varied in accordance with possible variations in other parts of the assembly. The rear side of the member 4 has a pair of parallel Wings 7 extending from top to bottom, and at the bottom the member is closed by a plate 8 having an upstanding flange 9 which fits within said member as a closure and strengthening means. A similar plate may be provided at the top.

The structure S may be secured directly to a store front or other chosen support in any de sired manner but preferably it is supported by a rigid conduit assembly which comprises a vertical main pipe 10 having a series of vertically spaced horizontal branch pipes [2. The trunk or main Ill carries electrical wires l3 which supply current to branch wires in the pipes l2. Pipe extends through the plates 8, and the series of pipes l2 extend through the bridge 6 to support the set of indicia P in a manner yet to be described. The branch wires lead from pipes 12 to insulated sockets it which carry conventional electric lamps or bulbs Hi. The sockets M are detachably supported in desired positions by the indicia P as will be described later.

It will be understood, for example, that the back or open side of the structure S faces the front of building, that the front or bridge 6 faces toward the opposite side of the street on which the building is located and that the concave reflecting surfaces face generally in opposite directions up and down the street respectively. The wings I of the structure S have a plurality of horizontal brackets l5 secured thereto by fastening assemblies l1, these brackets extending toward the front of the sign and, where the three sets of indicia M, N and P are to be substantially identical, being equal in number to the branch pipes l2 and arranged in the same vertically spaced relation as the latter.

In order that the sign may have a pleasing appearance in the daytime, as well as at night, the rear side of the structure S is substantially framed in an ornamental rectangle comprising horizontal top and bottom pieces l8 and I9, and vertical side pieces 29. These four pieces may be secured to the structure in any suitable manner, or may be interconnected at their ends to hold them in position as a unitary frame.

The apparatus thus far described comprises the means for supporting and illuminating or rendering visible the three sets of indicia M, N and P, which in the illustrated example are designed to spell the word Thom vertically so that it will be seen in triplicate from three distinctly different directions. The letters of course are constructed in block or other conventional type, and it will be understood that other symbols, or pictorial representations, may be substituted. The individual letters of the indicia M and N may be identical per se, although somewhat differently arranged and are mounted on the brackets l6 substantially in parallelism by screw and nut assemblies 22 or any suitable equivalent which, preferably, is designed to permit ready attachment and detachment of the letters. The letters of indicia P are considerably different, as follows.

The letters of indicia P must be designed to conceal the electrical lamps l5 from view in all directions from which the sign is readable and accordingly each letter is constructed with one or more rearwardly turned flanges. For example,

in Fig. 2 the letter M is shown in section as comprising not only a front face plate 23 in the shape of the letter but also a plurality of backwardly turned or attached flanges 24, 25, 26, etc., which constitute, in effect, a single flange following the outline of the letter. This letter structure includes an integral or rigidly attached strip of metal 21 at its rear, parallel to the front plate 23, for the purpose of securely mounting the letter upon the forward end of one of the branch pipes 12 by means of a pair of nuts 28 and 29, for example, threaded upon the pipe terminal. In like manner the other letters of the set of indicia P are detachably secured to the other pipe branch extremities.

Each letter of the set P preferably carries a plurality of lamps l5, although it will be appreciated that one or more of proper capacity will suffice when properly located to illuminate the background and give the desired light reflection. In the illustrated form, where four lamps are provided where possible for each letter of the alphabet, the lamps are located at spaced points, in symmetry. In the letter M, for example, the lamps are concealed in the four corners of the letter. The sockets I l preferably are made in two separable parts, each detachably carried by an apertured sheet metal bridge 3| which is welded or otherwise secured to the side flanges of the letter structure.

From the foregoing it will be seen that, as the bridge 6 is very narrow much of the light from the lamps 15 will be transmitted to the surfaces 5 and thence reflected by them in the general directions of the two sets of indicia. M and N. The latter, like the indicia P, comprise letters which have opaque front plates 36 in the shape of letters. They also preferably have flanges 32 on one side which give them better form for various angles of approach in the daytime and for assisting somewhat in proper reflection at night.

The indicia M and N stand out very clearly in silhouette outlines as the result of reflected light and illuminated background produced by the respective curved surfaces 5, 5. The indicia P have .a similar appearance, partly as the result of illuminated background and partly following from reflection of light toward their rear sides from the surfaces 5, 5 and the bridge 6. Each set of indicia can be seen from greater distances and much more clearly within the range of visibility, than can a set of indicia which transmit light or are outlined by direct glaring light.

The surfaces 5 may consist of polished metal, or enameled or painted material of any sort. Preferably they are provided by painting the illustrated smooth sheet metal structure in a color such as cream, white, or chrome yellow. A variation or shading of these colors can be employed effectively. The interior surfaces of the letters of the set P preferably are polished orcoated with light-reflecting material.

The several sets of indicia are rendered clearly visible at night with a single source of illumination, thus effecting large economy in operation. For example, a letter 18 inches in height and its two associated wing letters can be fully illuminated with a single 100 watt lamp, or with two 50 watt lamps, or with four 25 watt lamps.

The letters are readily detachable, and most of the letters of sets M and N are interchangeable by reversing them front to back and top for bottom when transferring from one set to the other. All letters of these two sets may be made fully interchangeable by duplicating the flange 32 for each letter; and of course they may be designed to form stock portions for the more complex letters of the series P. The structure S may be made up in sections of stock length so that it can be assembled in suitable lengths for a sign of any number of letters or symbols.

The two sets of indicia M and N are shown in parallelism but it will be appreciated that they may be angularly arranged while still separated by the structure S, and that the curvature of the surfaces may be varied to obtain maximum light reflection toward these sets of indicia while retaining a sufficient background of illumination for the set of indicia P.

Various other changes obviously may be made within the scope of the invention, and therefore I desire to be restricted in protection only within a reasonable interpretation of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A multi-way sign comprising two substantially parallel sets of indicia, and a third set of indicia arranged approximately perpendicular to said parallel sets; means affording a pair of reflecting surfaces between said parallel sets; and a source of illumination arranged behind said third set to produce reflection of light from said surfaces toward said parallel sets. a

2. In the construction defined in claim 1, all of the sets of indicia being opaque, and the source of light being concealed by said third set.

3. A sign structure comprising a rigid conduit provided with rigid branches, a symbol individual to and supported entirely by each branch, elec- .rical lighting means carried by each symbol, wires housed by said conduit and the corresponding branch for supplying current to each of said lighting means, light reflecting means supported by the conduit and branch assembly to receive light from said lighting means, and at least one further set of symbols arranged in the path of light reflected. from said reflecting means.

4. A multi-way sign structure comprising a pair of upright members having reflecting surfaces of approximately quarter-cylindrical curvature, a light source common to said surfaces and disposed adjacent one vertical edge of each of them, an image'forming structure concealing said light source and having said surfaces as a background, and a pair of further image forming structures disposed respectively opposite the said reflecting surfaces in positions where each stands out against the reflecting background formed by said surfaces.

5. A multi-way sign comprising a structure having a'pair of curved external surfaces facing substantially in opposite directions and approxie mately tangent to each other along a locus of close proximity, a set of symbols in the form of housings spaced outwardly from said locus and containing sources of artificial light, said housings having opaque walls concealing said sources from view in the directions in which said curved surfaces are presented to View and having refleeting surfaces designed to assist in illuminating said curved surfaces, and symbols associated With said curved surfaces in such manner as to be rendered visible by the illumination, whereby three distinct sets of symbols are rendered visible by a common set of light sources.

6. In an electrically lighted sign structure of the character described, a pair of members having surfaces of approximately quarter-cylindrical curvature joined to produce a device approximately V-shaped in cross section, a rigid electrical conduit concealed by said surfaces and arranged substantially at the vertex thereof, a series of branch conduits extending rigidly-from said concealed conduit outwardly from said vertex, housing and reflecting means secured to said branch conduits with electric lamps concealed in said means to illuminate said quartercylindrical surfaces, and sets of indicia associated individually with said surfaces to be rendered visible by the illumination.

NAUM J. MACOMBER. 

